Solo Hike at Shades State Park
I wasn’t about to let a little snow (ok, a lot of snow!) stop me from completing February’s hike at Shades State Park!
I’m in the early stages of my yearlong pursuit to complete the 12 amazing hikes recommended by Only in Indiana for 2021. While I referred to January’s adventure as a winter hike, the foot of snow that dropped a few days before my February hike reminded me what winter really can be in Indiana!
And for this trek through the winter wonderland, I decided to go solo.
Trail 6
Shades State Park is not far from Turkey Run State Park and is about an hour west of Indianapolis. While not one of the biggest state parks in Indiana, Shades offers more than 10 different trails of varying lengths and difficulties.
Aaron Douglas, the park’s Interpretive Naturalist, provided me with some helpful background about the park and recommended Trails 1, 4, and 5, stating that Trail 1 is the most popular.
Being the rule follower I am I stuck to the plan laid out by Only in Indiana and set off on Trail 6. (Don’t worry Aaron, I’ll be back to Shades soon to test out your recommendations!)
With a map of Shades State Park in hand, it was easy to find Trail 6, which is near the Dell Shelter. And there were plenty of parking options. Not many Hoosiers were as brave as I was given the deep snow, so I practically had the park to myself!
Trail 6 is just a half-mile loop and is considered moderately rugged. The trail starts and ends near the pond and runs along Red Fox Ravine.
I also got a spectacular view down into the Devil’s Punchbowl!
The name may sound a bit ominous, but I found it more breathtaking than frightening. This entire area was initially referred to as Shades of Death, and there are some dark tales that explain why. I for one think they made a wise choice when the official park opened and they simply named it Shades State Park!
Safety First
Fortunately, my solo hike ended up being anything but scary. Although choosing to go hiking alone may not have been the wisest choice, at least according to my mom!
Safety when hiking should always be a top priority whether you go it alone or with a group.
Especially when hiking solo, be sure to take a fully charged cell phone with you and tell someone about your hike before you hit the trail. Cell service in certain areas of the woods may not always be available, so keep that in mind.
I found it nostalgic that Shades State Park actually has a payphone near Trail 6! If you actually have a quarter on you that phone might come in handy!
Dressing for the weather is another important safety measure, and you can bet I bundled up for this hike. My waterproof snowboots came in handy as I tromped through the thick white stuff covering the trails.
Trail 6, and several of the other trails, include a series of stairs, which were still snow-covered in spots and slippery.
My hiking style is slow and steady anyway, so that was the perfect pace as I gingerly navigated my way up and down the steps. And I stopped often to snap yet another picture of the snowy landscape or beautify ice formations all around.
I found the trail markers to be even more helpful than usual since everything, including the normally well-defined trail path, was under a beautiful blanket of snow.
The staff at the park seemed to have dredged a narrow path in the snow that helped ensure I stayed on course. Normally I would not leave my mark in the woods as carving into trees is very damaging and may even be illegal. But since the snow would be melting soon, I did leave my Traveling Tanya mark in the snow!
Winter’s Majesty
I took my time on the short trail, partially due to safety. But more importantly, I wanted to truly take in the beauty of the snow-covered woods. I know hiking is a more popular activity in the warmer months, but if you have never gone on a winter hike you are really missing out!
I had no concern about mosquito bites, which can be pretty common in the humid summer months in Indiana. Wildlife was rather scarce as well, but that made it all the more spectacular when a sweet little bluebird landed on a branch just a few feet from me. But he didn’t cooperate and stick around long enough for me to get a good photo.
I did spy some non-human footprints, so I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only species enjoying this winter wonderland.
Everywhere I looked was a new canvas of unblemished snow. Had I not been following the trail closely or been paying attention to the signs, I may have missed the pond altogether.
I was smart enough not to test if the water was frozen over!
This also didn’t seem like the right time to sit and enjoy the view!
But I’ll definitely hike Trail 6 again during a different season, and I know it will be a completely different experience.
The main roads on the park were well cleared and easy to navigate. So even those with mobility concerns or not ready to brave the cold can still enjoy the snowy beauty of Shades State Park with a drive through the property.
Hiking Bingo
To add some extra fun to my hike I decided to play Hiking Bingo!
One of my followers, Michelle from southern California, created the Hiking Bingo app to inspire kids, and kids at heart, to explore the outdoors. Even though I was flying solo on this hike, I was up for a new form of bingo that would help me discover even more during my hike.
I pulled up the app and clicked on the option for hiking in the woods. My bingo card presented me with pictures of common items found in the woods, and I started checking off everything I saw. And it caused me to look a little closer to find some things I might have missed otherwise!
Given that southern California doesn’t get much snow I thought Hiking Bingo might be difficult to successfully complete in snowy Indiana. But with a keen eye and a competitive spirit, I got my bingo!
I can easily see how Hiking Bingo would help younger hikers have a richer outdoor experience. And I think I proved that Hiking Bingo can be fun at any age!
Learn more about Hiking Bingo at hikingbingo.com and download the app before your next excursion in nature.
Deer’s Mill Covered Bridge
As I was leaving the park I noticed a sign for Deer’s Mill Covered Bridge. There are nearly 100 historic covered bridges in Indiana, and I always enjoy checking them out. So I made the short drive from the entrance of the park to the covered bridge.
Due to the large snowfall, the parking lot was not accessible, so I simply admired the beautiful red wooden bridge against the sparkling white snowy background.
My yearlong hiking adventure will bring me back to Shades State Park in the much warmer days of July.
I’ll make a point to walk across this historic bridge this summer when the snow will just be a distant memory!
Do you prefer hiking solo or do you set out with a hiking crew? Comment below and share some of your hiking adventures.
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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